Chris Dodd is proceeding at his own carefully calibrated pace as he considers a White House run

Although he's unlikely to match potential rivals like New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton or Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry, he's convinced he can raise enough money to be a player. And the more he visits early primary and caucus states, the more he grows confident he can run a respectable race. "The way he captures the imagination of the American people is by being himself," said Connecticut consultant and activist Sanford Cloud Jr. "He loves people, and he feels comfortable with all people. And he knows the American people." Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic in the 1960's.

WASHINGTON -- Chris Dodd wants to make one thing clear: He'll do this presidential thing his way.

Potential rivals are setting up exploratory committees and opening offices in Des Moines and in Manchester, N.H. Polls are weighing in on who's ahead and who's not, and Dodd is virtually invisible on the lists. Would-be candidates are launching nationwide tours to peddle their new books.

But the Connecticut Democrat is proceeding at his own carefully calibrated pace as he considers a White House run. He sent out 30,000 Thanksgiving cards to friends and supporters this week. Though he says, "I'm leaning that way, clearly, today," about a White House run, he will not make a final decision until early next year. And he won't be guided by what anyone else is doing.

He's confident about his progress. Although he's unlikely to match potential rivals like New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton or Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry, he's convinced he can raise enough money to be a player. And the more he visits early primary and caucus states, the more he grows confident he can run a respectable race.

"The way he captures the imagination of the American people is by being himself," said Connecticut consultant and activist Sanford Cloud Jr. "He loves people, and he feels comfortable with all people. And he knows the American people."

But seasoned politicians and pundits, though they praise Dodd for his savvy and his demeanor, think he may be deluding himself.

When Clemson University's Palmetto Poll surveyed likely voters in that key Southern state last month on whom they recognized in the potential Democratic field and whether or not they liked them, Dodd's name was not even included.

"We didn't feel he had made any inroads," said Bruce Ransom, a professor of political science at Clemson. "We didn't think he'd be on anybody's radar screen."

Then there's the question Washington insiders ask: How can he run for president and, beginning in January, chair the Senate Banking Committee, which has power over not only securities and banking but also major consumer protection, housing and urban affairs legislation?

Dodd said he sees his chairmanship as a good fit with a presidential run. "We can go around the country and do field hearings," he said. "We can hear firsthand what is happening to manufacturing jobs and the industrial base, for example."

Such hearings would serve him well, he said, as a senator and a White House candidate.

"Part of the problem is that we get trapped in D.C. and don't understand what people are talking about," Dodd said.

All logical, answer the experts, but they still see Dodd as a long shot. The scorecard so far:

New Hampshire

Dodd spent a lively three days in the nation's first primary state in September and plans to return in December. He campaigned for Gov. John Lynch and for two Democratic congressional candidates, both of whom upset incumbent Republicans.

Some people were impressed.

"He's building bridges, and that certainly does help," said Michael Garofalo, the Democratic town chairman in Salem, N.H.

Dodd still has a fight to get onto activists' radars in time for the Jan. 22, 2008, primary. When the respected Granite State Poll surveyed voters in mid-September on their 2008 preferences, Dodd's name was not included on their list. The poll found Clinton with a solid lead, followed by former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.

It's going to be tough for Dodd, poll director Andrew E. Smith said. "Not only does Sen. Clinton have name recognition, she has a strong organization and a lot more money," he said. "And Edwards is remembered from 2004."

Ron Tschetter in Morocco and JordanOn his first official trip since being confirmed as Peace Corps Director, Ron Tschetter (shown at left with PCV Tia Tucker) is on a ten day trip to Morocco and Jordan. Traveling with his wife (Both are RPCVs.), Tschetter met with volunteers in Morocco working in environment, youth development, health, and small business development. He began his trip to Jordan by meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and discussed expanding the program there in the near future.

Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace CorpsSenator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments.

He served with honorOne year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

Peace Corps' Screening and Medical ClearanceThe purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

The Peace Corps is "fashionable" againThe LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace.

PCOL readership increases 100%Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

History of the Peace CorpsPCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

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Story Source: Hartford Courant

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Dominican Republic; Politics; Congress; Election2008 - Dodd

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